Letter: Standing with Jewish friends and neighbors

Wednesday

Nov 28, 2018 at 12:01 AMNov 28, 2018 at 9:07 PM

There were two people, neighbors, who had lived next to each other for a long time. The first one said to the other, “Oh, dear neighbor, as I have been taught to do, I do love you!” And the second neighbor asked, “Well, do you know what it is that causes me pain?”

And the first neighbor paused and thought about that for a moment and said, “No, I guess I don’t really know what causes you pain.” And then the second neighbor said, “Then you don’t really love me.”

That was a powerful story told that night by the Rabbi at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Des Moines on Oct. 29 at the vigil held to honor the Jews who were murdered in Pittsburgh earlier in the month. Members of Ames Area Religious Leaders Association were at that service.

As the AARLA, we stand in solidarity with our Jewish friends and neighbors. We want to know what causes you pain and to stand with you, as neighbors as you move through that pain. We want you to know that when you suffer, we also suffer and grieve with you.

There is in the larger culture a wave of hatred that we see almost daily. There are also many acts of compassion and care that go unannounced. We strive to practice that compassion in our world today with all of humanity.

As the religious leaders in the Ames community, we stand in solidarity with all religions and their free expression and practice. We stand in solidarity in knowing the interconnectedness of all beings on this beautiful planet.

Know that as religious leaders, we want to know what causes you pain so that we can truly love you. Darkness does not drive out darkness, only love can do that.